SAN ANTONIO -- A building at Palo Alto College is being infested with bats. The school found the problem after students and staff complained of a foul odor near Building K on campus late last year.
"Apparently the bats have been nesting for quite some time, and there have been 2 feet of bat guano," describes an anonymous person who tipped us off to the story. "[The school's] been given plenty of opportunity to addrses the issue of bat guano which could have been done over Christmas break."
The school's president, Dr. Cha Guzman, admits she first heard about the problem in December. Since then they have put up nets to keep bats out, and redirected foot traffic using barriers around the problem areas. She says the bats that moved in the attic are gone now, but they aren't able to remove the guano until school is out.
"This is really an important building and we don't want to disturb the instructional programs," adds Guzman, who says the building will be closed down for a major clean up in April.
She adds all air quality tests have come back negative for any airborne diseases. But in a recent inspection report by a local contractor, it cites students and staff inside the building could be "susceptible to health-related disease."
Guzman assures there is no risk of danger.
"I would never put the faculty, staff, or students in any danger," she says.
Others aren't convinced. "I can understand that from a business perspective, but that's a wrong decision to make especially if people have asthma, have health issues."
